From cop to cultural ambassador

It is Friday night at Trendz, an entertainment hotspot in Carnarsie, Brooklyn.

Ricardo Greenaway is a virtuoso pannist who has worked tirelessly to showcase his craft to the most discerning of audiences. He sets the tone for his five piece band, a musical outfit that embraces every conceivable genre. He reflects for a moment before recalling his days as a Trinidad and Tobago police officer.

That was some 30 years ago. “It was nine well spent years,” he begins. “Being an officer that patrolled Morvant, San Juan, Belmont and Port-of- Spain was an experience that taught me invaluable lessons. I will never trade those years for the world.

Responsibility and punctuality are keys to success. Being an officer also taught me to quickly assess a situation and how to best respond. These are essential attributes especially when doing business in New York.” Greenaway is equally thankful for his formative years at Malick Senior Comprehensive School where he was introduced to pan. “I can say that pan kept me constructive and disciplined.” He talks about daily practice on the tenor pan that guarded him from the destructive allure that the streets sometimes offer. “I can say that all the kids involved in pan were mature and never fell prey to vices.” Greenaway went on to play for several bands, including, Solo Harmonites, Cordettes, Exodus and